Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 123

The merchants leave Linzi one by one after receiving goods from Ye Zhou. However, unlike the merchants fleeing the city, the scholars keep pouring into Chen State. It isn’t because Chen Hou makes it easy to become an official, but because, along with goods, they’re now offering something else: paper.

Even though it’s only Xuan paper, it’s enough to send scholars all over the world into a frenzy.

(Translator’s Notes: also known as rice paper (though it’s not made from rice) — is a high-quality, traditional Chinese paper most commonly used for calligraphy, ink painting, and sometimes mounting scrolls or documents. It is prized for its smooth texture, absorbency, and durability.)

Studying is exhausting, especially as children get older. They can practice writing with sand trays, but when they reach a certain age, they have to carve characters. Bamboo and wooden slips are difficult to carry and offer no benefits except for durability.

But paper—though vulnerable to water and fire—is easy to carry and easy to write on. As long as it’s stored properly, it’s not hard to preserve for years or even decades.

Some noble families even brush tung oil on the paper after the ink dries, thinking it’ll preserve it longer.

Less than a month after paper is introduced, people already start painting on it.

The paper, once known as “Xuan paper,” is now called “gentleman’s paper.”

Within another half month, it’s renamed “Celestial Paper.”

When Ye Zhou hears about this, he nearly spits out the tea in his mouth.

He knows Chen Hou is trying to build up his image, but he doesn’t expect him to go so far as to invoke the “celestial being.” Though, to be fair, Chen Hou really does think of him as a celestial.

“They’re saying the State of Chen has divine assistance,” Zou Ming says, handing Ye Zhou a napkin as he looks at him, half-laughing, half-exasperated. “Otherwise, how could anyone explain that paper or the goods flowing out of Chen State? I think almost everyone believes it, even the people in Linzi.” Zou Ming makes the remark, though his expression doesn’t reveal his thoughts.

After all, the people in Linzi have seen Ye Zhou. They all know he’s just a merchant. Yet as soon as the rumors start, they believe without hesitation.

Recently, some people even start quietly leaving fruits and vegetables at the door of the supermarket. It all begins with one person, and soon others follow suit. Every morning, Ye Zhou sees the door piled high with “gifts”—fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, and small wooden statues.

Although Ye Zhou isn’t the subject of the carvings, they still vaguely resemble a young man in strange clothes, lacking hair but maintaining a good posture. Though his face is unclear, the temperament is similar.

At first, Ye Zhou thinks people are just pretending. After all, if he were in their shoes, he wouldn’t believe the supermarket owner is a god. Even if the owner is selling photon cannons, he’d think the person is an alien.

But now, it seems there’s little difference between “immortals” and aliens in the eyes of the people here.

As time goes on, Ye Zhou’s status becomes more transcendent. Chen Hou even begins inviting him to court regularly—though Ye Zhou doesn’t attend many times, every morning, Chen Hou leads civil and military officials to the gate of Ye Zhou’s residence, waiting for him to send someone to invite them in.

With Chen Hou showing such respect, no one dares to question Ye Zhou’s “celestial” status anymore.

The employees from the Daliang Dynasty are proud. They’ve nearly gone crazy not being able to call Ye Zhou “Lord Immortal” in front of outsiders.

They prefer to talk to people around them who understand their respect for Ye Zhou.

Now, the employees are much more willing to talk to the locals.

The locals, too, are tactful. They don’t try to speak to Zou Ming or the others, but they’re eager to befriend these “servants” who look more like themselves.

“We were saved by the Lord immortal too,” one employee says to a friend. “Where we come from, things were even worse than here.”

“There was a locust plague, then a drought. The harvest failed in the north. We wanted to escape south, but there were bodies everywhere along the way. People dying from hunger… if the pit wasn’t deep enough, they’d dig them up.”

The people are shocked. “Why dig them up? Was there some kind of grudge? Were they whipped?”

The employee shakes his head. “There was nothing to eat, everywhere. They peeled the bark off the trees. What do you think they dug them up for?”

The people widen their eyes. “…To eat?”

The employee nods solemnly. “When people are desperate, there’s nothing they won’t eat.”

The people ask, “Which country are you from?” They’ve never heard of such a country suffering from locust plagues and droughts recently.

The employees know the people no longer see Ye Zhou as just a businessman, so they proudly say, “We’re not from here.”

The people are puzzled. “I know you’re not from Chen.”

The employee smiles and says, “We are not from Chen, nor from any other state. We are from the Daliang Dynasty.”

The local blinks. He can’t think of anywhere like that. He asks, “Outside the realm?”

Just shy of calling them barbarians.

Although the people have never left Linzi, they know that the barbarians outside like to establish countries, constantly founding and then losing them. A country is probably no bigger than a village, and no one really takes them seriously.

The employee replies, “Do you know of the three thousand small worlds?”

The local nods. “That’s what the celestials talk about.”

The employee breathes a sigh of relief. If they haven’t even heard of this, he wouldn’t know how to explain: “Your place is a small world, and our place is also a small world. Our place has just one country—the Daliang Dynasty. It’s about as big as all your countries combined.”

The employee feels a little proud saying that, but then quickly loses that pride—what’s the point of a big country if its people live worse lives than these locals?

“In our place, there are no aristocratic families. As long as every family has money, they can send their children to school and let them take the imperial examination.”

The people become curious and immediately gather around. “What is the imperial examination?”

The employee is surrounded by so many people that he suddenly remembers what the immortal said when he summoned him earlier.

The immortal, knowing he’s close to the people, hadn’t scolded or stopped him. He only said that if someone asked about the imperial examination, the employee should explain it in detail, without hiding or avoiding any part of it.

So the employee immediately replies, “It’s a test to become an official!”

The crowd erupts into an uproar, and more people gather.

Linzi may not have much now, but it has many scholars. They also gather around, and someone asks loudly, “Isn’t it a joke to become an official by taking an exam? Can you really be a good official just because you write well?”

“That’s right! Some people write beautiful essays, but they’re not good officials!”

The employee quickly answers, “I don’t know about that, but it’s been in use for so many years. It must be useful, right? Otherwise, how would you choose?”

The scholars debate and finally agree that taking an exam to become an official seems to be a reasonable method.

The employee adds, “If you don’t take the imperial examination, how will anyone know whether you can read, whether you’ve studied, or if you understand the truth? Besides, the exam is meant to test how to be an official and how to govern the people. It’s about national policy. And the official term is five years. Officials from all regions can’t stay in one place for too long to avoid forming factions and disobeying the emperor’s orders.”

The scholars discuss it again. “This is a good idea. I think the downfall of Chen State today is due to the power of the aristocratic families.”

“Alas, even though Chen Hou is a good man, he lacks an iron fist and can’t control it.”

“If this method is used, it might just cure this stubborn problem.”

“It seems coming to Chen State was the right choice. Is this how Chen selects its officials now?” a newly arrived scholar asks.

They’ve come to Linzi but haven’t seen the Prime Minister. With no path forward, they’re about to leave—now they think maybe there’s still hope.

An earlier arrival says, “That’s not what this is. This man is just telling a story from a tale book.”

“No one knows who made it up, but it sounds very convincing.”

The employee can’t help but laugh. Since he says he’s from another small world, they seem to assume he’s telling a story and don’t believe him.

“I don’t know whether the immortal is real or not, but I heard the prime minister of Chen State is a celestial.”

“If there are celestials, why don’t they go to Wei State? Wei State is now the largest country in the world, surpassing the Zhou Dynasty.”

The Chen locals bristle. “What’s that supposed to mean? You think Chen isn’t good enough? Our land is blessed and full of talent—that’s why the celestial chose to stay here! You must be from Wei, huh? If Wei’s so great, why’d you come to Chen?”

The scholar blushes, but refuses to back down. “I’m just traveling the states. I didn’t come to Chen to become an official. I don’t even want to be one!”

The other scholars: “…”

Oh, they all forget to act like they don’t want to be officials.

But they can’t help it and still ask, “Will Chen State use this imperial examination method?”

“If it’s used, when will the exams be held? Is it just once? How often? What will be tested? How can someone pass? What kind of official can they become if they pass?”

For a while, the city of Linzi buzzes with discussions about the imperial examination and whether it’ll work.

The noble families oppose it, but they don’t have the energy to pressure Marquis Chen just yet.

No one imagines that the Zheng family’s issue will be resolved so quickly.

All adult males of the main branch of the Zheng family are executed. Unmarried men and women are confiscated and sent to the palace, while young children are temporarily raised as servants in the palace.

As for the branches… Marquis Chen doesn’t settle scores with them but tells the people of the Zheng branches that anyone can become the Main Branch. As long as they’re loyal to him, they can return to Linzi and restore the Zheng family’s glory.

In short, the main branch of the Zheng family is out of favor, but the branches are still welcome. As long as they’re loyal, Marquis Chen still opens his arms to them.

The people in the branches almost immediately believe this.

They know Chen Hou is trying to divide them—but the temptation to return to Linzi is too great.

Besides, his statements are public knowledge. They’re not afraid he’ll go back on his word.

So the branches fight among themselves and scramble to give gifts to Marquis Chen—and they don’t forget about Ye Zhou either.

Some noble families send people to scold them: “After what he did to the Zheng family, His Majesty treats your Zheng family like this—don’t you hate it?”

The people in the branches think these people are fools. Why should they hate him? They’ve long since distanced themselves from the main line. Every year, they have to send people and resources to the main house just to have their children considered for officialdom.

It’s a good thing for them to be able to replace the main branch.

Not every branch governs wealthy cities. Many are remote, and if even Chen Hou doesn’t enjoy luxuries, how could they?

In the past, all they can do is hope the main house will promote their children, send them to Linzi to study and take official positions.

Now, they no longer need the main branch’s help; they can do it themselves.

In that case, why not take the chance?

The aristocrats send messengers again and again, but none of the Zheng branches respond. Some even throw those pampered nobles straight out the door, and none of the Zheng family branches in all those cities care to pay attention to them.

As Ye Zhou thinks, Chen State may be in turmoil, but it isn’t getting worse.

With the image of the “celestial,” the people of Chen State suddenly gain immense confidence in their country.

They sincerely believe a celestial has descended and that he will make Chen State stronger.

When the Marquis of Chen announces to the whole country that an immortal has descended and issues an immortal decree, everyone in Chen State obeys.

At the end of autumn this year, Chen will hold its first imperial examination.

This time, it isn’t just Chen State that’s in an uproar. The whole world is shaken.

Ye Zhou looks at Chen Hou, who comes to him in person to apologize. But Ye Zhou isn’t angry.

All of this is Chen Hou building momentum for him.

No matter what the vassal states think, as long as the people of Chen State and the noble families believe it, the reforms after Chen Hou’s decree will go smoothly.

Ye Zhou looks at Chen Hou, whose complexion is still pale from poisoning, and simply smiles. “Since Chen Hou has already made up his mind and is determined to cut away the rot, then I wish you success. May Chen rise from poverty and weakness to become a strong nation, able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the great nations.”

Chen Hou slowly bows, just as they did when they first met, kneeling on his knees and performing the great ceremony of kneeling to his ancestors in front of Ye Zhou.

“Ji, humbly thanks the immortal. I will never slack off in this life and will dedicate myself to the revitalization of Chen State. The immortal’s kindness will be engraved in the hearts of Chen’s people forever. Chen’s people will never forget it!”

Ye Zhou looks at him but doesn’t speak again. He simply gazes out the window.

It turns out that autumn has already arrived.